Blair warning over Darfur ceasefire

Monday 9 January 2006 00:12 BST

Prime Minister Tony Blair has called on the government of Sudan and rebel movements in the province of Darfur to implement an immediate and effective ceasefire and commit to a political resolution of the conflict.

Despite recent peace talks, both sides were prolonging the crisis with continuing attacks, said Mr Blair.

And he hinted at possible sanctions against the government in Khartoum if the violence continues, warning: "If rapid progress is not made, we will need to consider alternative approaches with international partners. The government of Sudan must prove it is taking its responsibilities seriously."

Mr Blair was speaking ahead of International Human Rights Day, which has this year been adopted by campaigners from around the globe as a day of action to demand peace in Darfur.

The PM said that Darfur would remain "at the top of my agenda" and promised that Britain would continue to support recent agreements reached in Addis Ababa and Abuja on the deployment of peacekeepers.

Around 400,000 people have been killed and two million driven from their homes by three years of violence involving rebel groups, security forces and the janjaweed militia, who are strongly suspected to enjoy the support of the Khartoum administration.

At a summit in Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa last month, the Sudanese government agreed to allow United Nations peacekeepers to operate alongside African Union (AU) troops in a bid to halt the spiralling violence. The plan was later endorsed by an AU meeting in Nigerian capital Abuja, at which the organisation's peace mission was extended to next June.

In a statement released by 10 Downing Street, Mr Blair said: "Both the government and the rebel movements should be clear that they will be judged on the basis of actions, not just words. They must move forward quickly to implement an immediate and strengthened ceasefire, commit to a political process and agree an effective peacekeeping force for Darfur.

"Sudan will remain at the top of my agenda. The international community will be watching closely. The UK will continue to support the process agreed in Addis Ababa and Abuja. But if rapid progress is not made, we will need to consider alternative approaches with international partners."

Mr Blair said that "appalling" human rights violations had been committed in Darfur, particularly against women and young girls, who have suffered regular rape and sexual violence. "This day of action for Darfur demonstrates once again the strength of feeling across the world that the violence must come to an immediate end," Mr Blair said.